National Curriculum Standards for Indigenous Schools

Consolidating this scenario, a new document was presented to indigenous schools nationwide: the National Curriculum Standards for Indigenous Schools (RCNEI), a guideline of new practices elaborated by specialists, technicians, and indigenous teachers. It is long and detailed, containing general observations about indigenous education based on historical, legal, anthropological, and pedagogical aspects which support the proposal for an indigenous school which should be special, intercultural, and bilingual. The document also contains work suggestions which may help elaborate a specific curriculum, closer to the reality of different communities, in order to integrate ethnic knowledge with selected universal knowledge.

In a field characterized by innumerous concepts and different practices, the RCNEI compiles and systematizes consensual ideas which may lead to several interpretations and proposals for autonomous curriculum and pedagogy. To make it so, educational agents must be professionally qualified, and administrative flexibility in the state departments must be achieved, opening new communication channels where indigenous communities may have an active part in the definition of their schools' pedagogical and political project.